Need Some Help, Fast!

J

jdheff1982

No you're not! I'm Sparticus!
Aug 17, 2002
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Wichita, KS
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!!!!!need Some Help, Fast!!!!!

I just got home about 45 minutes ago and checked out my 37 gallon tank. I found the male sitting in one spot and the female lying on her side, dead. I immediately grabbed my tank divider and stuck it in the 20 gallon tank with kribs. I netted the male and stuck him in the unoccupied portion of the 20 gallon. Was this the right thing to do??? He seems ok except that he is gaspin pretty hard. He has all of his colors showing, so he seem alright. The only fish I have in the 37 now are the 2 spotted rafaels. Any advice would be helpful. BTW, I would give water parameters, but they would be messed up since I added 40ml of Amquel after I pulled the rams. I really just need some guidence as to what to do next. Check out "My daily cycling log." I usally post in the evening, but I may go ahead and post this morning and evening today. Please help!! Thanks!
 
I would imagine that nitrites would be responsible for the problems. I don't think rams would be very high on my list of good fish to cycle with. Moving the male was a good idea, however there's a pretty good chance that there is already a lot of damage done and he may never fully recover. If you're sure you want to cycle with fish, I'd switch to something like a zebra danio that isn't nearly as sensitive to the high ammonia and nitrites.
 
Whoa, did I miss something? Was it the female Ram that died, or the female krib? Are both the Rams dead?

How does the male krib look now? Were the colors really bright on the fish that died? (I hate to say this, but that can be a sign of death by ammonia poisoning ...)

Hang in there.

-- Pat
 
Ok, CW, I moved the male ram into the divided krib tank. Both kribs and kids are fine. I just checked my water in the 37 gallon and it has no ammonia, but the nitrites are at 1 ppm. I would do nitrates, but it takes to long to do and I am tired. Hope this helps some. BTW, ever since my 37 gallon has been thrown into another cycle, the water readings have been pretty consistant. Almost always 0 ammonia, 1 to 5 ppm nitrites and <1 ppm nitrates. I don't understand it......
 
Another thing, do you think that spotted rafaels (a family of the doradids) will be ok thru the cycling process??? They were in the tank when I had the bumble cichlids and when the tank was fine. Thanks!

EDIT: BTW, this will be the last post until I get up from bed [dang 3rd shift!] Thanks for the help!!
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by silver_shark
BTW, ever since my 37 gallon has been thrown into another cycle, the water readings have been pretty consistant. Almost always 0 ammonia, 1 to 5 ppm nitrites and <1 ppm nitrates. I don't understand it......
Click to expand...

How long have you been showing nitrites? How long has the tank been setup? What caused it to "re-cycle'?
 
I guess I'm confused, I assumed this 37 gallon was a brand new setup since you were doing the cycling log on it? I was about to ask you in PM if you were doing a fishless cycle or what since you didn't specify in your cycling log post. I guess this answers my question :(
 
It has been showing nitrites for the past week. It was fully cycled for about 2 weeks before hand. Like I keep asking, are my 2 spotted rafaels going to be hurt by the cycling???? I really don't have anywhere to put them. Thaks
 
Update on the male ram:

He seems to be getting better, but hard to tell. He is checking out his temporary tank and has even tried to get at the kribs on the other side of the divider. I have noticed his mouth looks kinda odd, almost cottony. I noticed area on his bod that are kinda greenish streaks. But just by looking at the way he is now, he seems better than before. He is still gasping a lot though. I hope he makes it!!
 
Keep an eye on the ram if you want to try and save him. If his mouth is getting cottony, he could be developing a secondary bacteria or fungal infection. His heavy breathing would indicate that he may have some gill damage from swimming in nitrites for so long.

As far as the raphaels go...how the high nitrites affect each fish is really dependent on the individual fish. The reason why people recommend cycling with fish like zebra danios is that even though they're hardy and likely to survive...if they don't they usually only cost a buck. Without a doubt, swimming around in nitrites at any concentration is going to do some sort of damage...how much damage is the real question.

How big are the fish? Maybe you can throw them into the 20 and cramp everyone for a few days while you finish out with a fishless.
 
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